Azrael (DC Comics)

Azrael is an alias used by multiple fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The original version, Jean-Paul Valley, was created by Denny O'Neil, Joe Quesada, and Peter Milligan, and debuted in ''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' #1 (October 1992). The second character to assume the alias was Michael Washington Lane, in ''Azrael: Death's Dark Knight'' #1 (May 2009). Both iterations are Christian vigilantes and assassins created by the Order of St. Dumas and its derivatives (i.e the Order of Purity), secretive religious organizations seeking to restore justice to Gotham City through religious extremism. They are typically portrayed as antiheroes and reluctant allies of the superhero Batman and the Batman Family, battling forms of manipulations employed by their respective orders, violent tendencies shaped by tragedies in their life, and proving themselves trusted allies to Batman.

Both Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane have appeared in associated DC media. Additionally, an original iteration, Theo Galavan, appears in the second season of '' Gotham'', portrayed by James Frain.

Characters

Jean-Paul Valley

Jean-Paul Valley was introduced as the original Azrael in the 1992 four-issue miniseries ''Batman: Sword of Azrael''.

He later briefly assumed the identity of Batman in the " Knightfall" story arc (1993–1994), after Bruce Wayne was severely injured in a fight with Bane.

Then, he starred in the subsequent '' Azrael'' series.

Michael Washington Lane

Michael Lane was originally introduced in ''Batman'' #665 (June 2007) as the alter-ego of the supervillain Bat-Devil. In ''Azrael: Death's Dark Knight'' #1 (May 2009), the character was re-introduced as Azrael, as part of the '' Battle for the Cowl'' story arc.

Others

A number of other characters besides Valley and Lane have assumed the identity of Azrael in the DC Universe:
* Valley's father was the previous Azrael, as seen in ''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' (in which he was identified as Jean-Paul Valley Sr.). In ''Azrael Annual'' #1, the character's role as Azrael is depicted in more depth, and he is now identified as just Ludovic Valley.
* A Chinese man, supposedly given the same training as Valley and an identical costume, is briefly under the control of the Order. Also, the position of the Order of St. Dumas' enforcer has been passed on since medieval times.
* Early in the ''Azrael'' series, another man is supposedly selected and trained in the same way as Valley and the Chinese man to be Valley's replacement. He is defeated by Valley and supposedly falls to his death, only to resurface in Gotham City in '' Underworld Unleashed'' wearing one of Valley's 'Batman' armored costumes and engaging in illegal underground fights after having made a deal with Abra Kadabra (acting on behalf of Neron) for his soul in return for his life.
* An unrelated character also named Azrael was created by Marv Wolfman and José Luis García-López and debuted in '' Tales of the Teen Titans'' #52 in 1985. This version, whose origins remained a mystery, appeared as a supporting character in the Titans stories in the late 1980s.

In other media

Television

An original incarnation of Azrael, Theo Galavan, appears in the second season of '' Gotham'', portrayed by James Frain. He is a billionaire industrialist, heir apparent of the Order of St. Dumas, brother of Tabitha Galavan, uncle of Silver St. Cloud, benefactor of a criminal group called the "Maniax", and later mayor of Gotham City. After being exposed and killed by Oswald Cobblepot and Jim Gordon, Theo is later revived by Hugo Strange, but is rendered insane and amnesiac. Under the belief that he is Azrael, an ancient immortal warrior who vanquished the Order's enemies, Strange gives Theo armor, a mask, and sword and tasks him with killing Gordon, only for Theo to be killed by Cobblepot and Butch Gilzean via an RPG.Gotham EP Promises Comics-Accurate Azrael in Second Half of Season 2
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Video games

* The Jean-Paul Valley incarnation of Azrael appears as an unlockable playable character in the Nintendo DS version of '' Lego Batman: The Videogame''.
* The Jean-Paul Valley and Michael Lane incarnations of Azrael appear as character summons in '' Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure''.
* The Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael appears as a playable character in the handheld versions of '' Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes''.
* The Michael Lane incarnation of Azrael appears in the '' Batman: Arkham'' franchise, voiced by Khary Payton.

Miscellaneous

The Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley and Jean-Paul Valley Jr. incarnations of Azrael appear in the ''Batman: Knightfall'' audio drama.

Collected editions

* ''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' (#1-4) 993-
* ''Azrael Vol. 1: Fallen Angel'' (''Batman: Sword of Azrael'' #1-4, ''Showcase '94'' #10, ''Azrael'' #1-7)
* ''Batman: Contagion'' (''Azrael'' #15)
* ''Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 1'' (''Azrael: Agent of the Bat'' #51-55)
* ''Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 2'' (''Azrael: Agent of the Bat'' #56)
* ''Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 3'' (''Azrael: Agent of the Bat'' #58)
* ''Batman: No Man's Land Vol. 4'' (''Azrael: Agent of the Bat'' #59-61)
* ''Azrael: Death's Dark Knight'' (#1-3, ''Detective Comics Annual'' #11, ''Batman Annual'' #27)
* ''Azrael: Angel in the Dark'' (''Azrael'' (vol. 2) #1-6) 010-
* ''Azrael: Killer of Saints'' (''Azrael'' (vol. 2) #7-13) (cancelled)
* ''Batman: Gotham Shall Be Judged'' (''Azrael'' (vol. 2) #14-18) 012-

References

External links

World of Black Heroes: Azrael (Michael Washington Lane) Biography
* Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley) at the DC Comics wiki
* Azrael (Jean-Paul Ludovic Valley, the father) at the DC Comics wiki
* Azrael (Michael Lane) at the DC Comics wiki

Azrael Biography
at Batman Myth.com
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